The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-03-26
QUARTERLY REVIEW.
Or. cuRTlsS' NOTES ON THE SUM-
DAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Lesson MIL of the International series
for sunday, March 27-Goidrn Text.
Acts vii, 3.-R.,iew Of the Past Twelve
Lessons,
SUGGESTIONS FOR REVIEW.

Acts vii, 3:-H.,iew Of the Past Twelve
Lessons.
SUGGESTIONS FOR REVIEW.
Design Of the Bblc-The object OF the
Bible is not 10 satisfy our curiosity in science
or history. II, end is 10 impart religious teach
ing in way that plain people in all ages may
understand. The Old Testament was first
written for Gods chosen people, Israel, who
were to be the people Of redemption. 1t Is,
therefore, not the design Of the first two
chapter, of Genesis to afford scientific knowl-
edge, but to teach men of every uge that Cod
created all things. God is represented rs
creating the world in his week, but we have
no more need TO suppose that il was made up
Of six days Of twHty-four hours than TO
think that God Is like one of ourselves.
Creation of Man-The last work which
Col created was man. He was the crown OF
the creation, the king Of the earth, which God
had made MS his kingdom. In all the other
acts of creation God simply commanded and
II came into being; hut he indicated the in
finite superiority Of man above the bruteS by
saying, Let us make man IN our image, after
our likeness Mans superiority over the ami
mails consists, then, in the special interest
which God manircsts in his creation as we'll
as in fact that be- creates him in his image.
BY the image aud likeness OF God We under
stand that perfect ideal form which is fitted
10 express IA divine person aud in which Jesus
appeared on the Mount of TRANSPORTATION.
The Temptation and Fall-God Jaw all that
he had made--thc earth and its kinG--amd
behold it was very good. Satan, mighty
fallen rpirit, saw it, and took on as filling
mode of representation the form of "A serpent.
Pie raised doubts in the mind Of the first
woman rs TO Gods goodness aud truth, and
filled her with desire for knowledge like
that of God The woman, allurcd by the
beauty Of the fruit, and desiring to enjoy the
promised wisdom, f,urlrSsly partoOk of the
forbidden fruit, and gave 10 her husband and
hc ate Instead Of becoming like God in
knowledge she and her husband were filed
with shame, until at last they were bauishod
from Eden. In believing Satan and dlsbe
lieving God they fell into sin and misery.
The Fruit Of Sin--Thcir sin bore fruit in
the subsequent history of the world. Eve,
who had known the mothers joy in the birth
Of firstborn, was destined to see him muir
dcrcr Cain and Abel, feeling the need of tho
Divine favor brought their offerings 10 God.
Gains was rejected, while Abel's was accept
ed. Gains anger burned against his brother
Abel Like n wild beast it gained possession
of his heart. From that moment he was u
murderer, even before the fatal blow fell.
After he has slain his brother, God calls him
to an account for his crime, and when he re-
fuses to confess, tells him that his brothers
blood cries from the ground. Cain Is ban
ished from God and the patcrnal home, and is
doomed to wander "A fugitive and vaga-
bond
The Earth Swept by the Deuge-At last
he settles down and builds city. His de
sccndants become famous, the men as artists
and artisans, the women for their beauty and
grace At the same time there is another
people, the descendants of pious Seth, who
are distinguished for their worship Of God.
But the Scthitcs, charmed by the beautiful
Cainite women, form marriage alliances with
them. Piety dies out Of the world, excepting
Noah's family, and the earth becomes cor
rupt and full of violence; hence God deter
mines 10 sweep off this wicked race by the
waters of the flood. He commands Noah to
prepare an ark TO save himself, as well as the
animals and fowls living in that region Of the
inhabited globe The flood comes, the guilty
race are swept from the earth and human
history begins again with the family OF
Noah.
Abraham Taught of God-Sin is still in
the world Ii is manifest in human pride
Men build them n tower that their name may
not he lost, but God scatters them. Various
nations are formed The light of Gods truth
seems To be about eXtlnGulShcd; but God calls
Abraham from his home in Cr OF the Chal-
dces and tells him to 20 to II land that he
shall tell him OF. He first goes TO IIaran and
afterwards to Canaan. But, 50 far as we
know he did not derive the true religion
from either of these places. In tue first two
the moon god was worshiped, and Canaan
was the seat Of gross idolatry. SO far us
Abram knew the true religion, he was taught
of God.
Lots Fad Choice While other relatives
came with him to Iaran, only Lot attended
him to Canaan. Abraham had perhaps II
thousand servants all told after he had Wis
tied Egypt, at least III later times. His pos
sessions and those of his nephew were SO large
that they were not able to dwell together ON
account Of the quarrels OF their herdmcn.
Abraham therefore gave Lot his choice.
With n grccdincS, that was dSgracrful he
chose the talreSt territory within his range of
vision. This proved, however, to be most
unfortunate choice, aS all choices are likely
to he that are made for the sake of gain for
he was thrown among the worst people OF
Canaan.
The Covcnant-But God did not forsakc
Abram. Lot did not get the advantage after
ALL for God promised the lani of Canaan to
Ahram rs we'll as n numerous posteli,y, ana
entered into n solemn covenant with him AT
the same tine he showed him that the prom
iSes that he had made were not To be enioyed
until his descendants had passed through the
valley of humiliation. They were to he
trained in the school of atilicton in Egypt
before they were 10 receive their possession in
the Promised Land. This interview of God
with his servant was memorable Abram
believed on Jehovah, and he counted 1t to
him as Righteousness
Abraham's Prayer for Sodom-The folly of
Lots choice and tue generosity of Abraham
We're soon set forth III n strong light. While
Lot was living III Sodom the place was at
tackled by five allied kings. At this time, had
1t not been for the sell sacrifice OF his uncle,
Lot would have lost his family and all his
worldly goods; but Abraham by "a timely
attaci; rescued them from the enemy. God,
however, had determined that Sodom should
be DESTROYED. The threu angels who an